TY - JOUR

T1 - Diamonds in the Kamchatka peninsula (Tolbachik and Avacha volcanoes)

T2 - Natural origin or contamination?

AU - Pokhilenko, N. P.

AU - Shumilova, T. G.

AU - Afanas’ev, V. P.

AU - Litasov, K. D.

PY - 2019/5

Y1 - 2019/5

N2 - Lavas of the Kamchatka volcanoes store cubic-octahedral diamonds identical in morphology and structure to synthetic crystals, and their natural origin is doubted. Judging by published data, the diamonds discovered in the Tolbachik lavas are similar to synthetic diamonds made by different producers, and the analyzed samples rather result from contamination with synthetic material. Ophiolite-hosted diamonds reported from Europe, China, Mongolia, and Polar Urals look like the Tolbachik diamonds and are of the same type. The similarity between crystals coming from geologically dissimilar objects indicates that contamination may occur in those cases as well. Thus, diamonds found in unusual hosts or geologic settings require careful checking. These findings have to be reproduced repeatedly in other in situ samples and approved by independent experts; with all respect to the priority of the first finders, the sampling sites should be open to many researchers, especially the respective specialists. The inevitable disproval of false diamond findings is discouraging and discredits the true discoveries. Possible contamination with synthetic or natural material from cutting tools has to be excluded in all newly found diamonds before claiming their natural origin.

AB - Lavas of the Kamchatka volcanoes store cubic-octahedral diamonds identical in morphology and structure to synthetic crystals, and their natural origin is doubted. Judging by published data, the diamonds discovered in the Tolbachik lavas are similar to synthetic diamonds made by different producers, and the analyzed samples rather result from contamination with synthetic material. Ophiolite-hosted diamonds reported from Europe, China, Mongolia, and Polar Urals look like the Tolbachik diamonds and are of the same type. The similarity between crystals coming from geologically dissimilar objects indicates that contamination may occur in those cases as well. Thus, diamonds found in unusual hosts or geologic settings require careful checking. These findings have to be reproduced repeatedly in other in situ samples and approved by independent experts; with all respect to the priority of the first finders, the sampling sites should be open to many researchers, especially the respective specialists. The inevitable disproval of false diamond findings is discouraging and discredits the true discoveries. Possible contamination with synthetic or natural material from cutting tools has to be excluded in all newly found diamonds before claiming their natural origin.

KW - Carbonado

KW - Contamination

KW - Natural diamond

KW - Ophiolite

KW - Synthetic diamond

KW - Volcano

KW - synthetic diamond

KW - MINERALS

KW - carbonado

KW - LUOBUSA OPHIOLITE

KW - ophiolite

KW - natural diamond

KW - PERIDOTITE

KW - PIPE

KW - contamination

KW - CHROMITITES

KW - RAY-IZ OPHIOLITE

KW - volcano

KW - SUTURE ZONE

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064972114&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.15372/RGG2019024

DO - 10.15372/RGG2019024

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85064972114

VL - 60

SP - 463

EP - 472

JO - Russian Geology and Geophysics

JF - Russian Geology and Geophysics

SN - 1068-7971

IS - 5

ER -